Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • FAAN condemns invasion of Sokoto airport by crowd of political loyalists

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Sunday condemned invasion of the runway of Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto by crowd of political loyalists on Friday.

    The FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, made the condemnation in a statement in Lagos.

    Yakubu alleged that the loyalists broke through the airport fence and invaded the airport in a bid to receive their political masters.

    The general manager described the incident as a gross violation of the security and safety arrangements at the airport.

    “However, our team of aviation security officers were able to curtail the situation and normalcy was restored at the airport.

    “The airport environment is a highly regulated environment and should be seen as such,” she said.

    Yakubu said as the 2019 general elections was drawing closer, FAAN would like to advise the general public, especially politicians and their supporters to ensure compliance with all rules and regulations at the airports.

    She added that the authority would not compromise security and safety at our airports for any reason.(NAN)

  • Apapa congestion: Ambode flags off expansion of Orile tanker terminal

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Sunday flagged off the expansion of the Orile Tanker Terminal truck, as part of solutions to the Apapa gridlock.

    Ambode assured that work would be accelerated on the 1000-capacity terminal at Orile-Iganmu area of the state.

    Ambode, while on an inspection tour of the Apapa-Iganmu axis said the expansion of the terminal was one of the resolutions reached at the recent meeting with stakeholders, especially in the maritime sector.

    He said that lasting solutions were suggested to take off the roads, the  containerised trucks , majorly responsible for the gridlock in the Apapa area.

    “One of the other resolutions is that we should have authorised truck terminal park and so my visit to this place today is to flag off the reconstruction of this terminal so that we can accommodate 1000 trucks.

    “We will do this in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority so that the call-up system can work efficiently.

    “The expansion we are adding to this particular terminal in which we have decided to acquire the adjoining land, we will use that primarily for non-petroleum trucks so that we can sectionalise these trucks and allow the call-up system to work,” he said.

    Ambode said this was part of the efforts of the State Government to make sure that Apapa gridlock and the truck menace become a thing of the past permanently.

    He also disclosed that the State Government had concluded plans to utilise an expanse of land in Ijanikin area, along Lagos-Badagry Expressway  with a capacity to accommodate at least 5,000 trucks.

    “I have just been briefed that we have an additional land space in Ijanikin that can accommodate 5000 trucks.

    “We will explore that possibility immediately; all that we are doing is just to make sure that there is a permanent solution to this whole idea of trucks destroying our bridges and roads,” Ambode said.

    While appealing to residents for their understanding, the governor assured that within the next six to eight weeks, the terminals would be up and running to get the trucks off the roads and bridges within the axis.

    He said aside the expansion of the terminal, the commitment by the Federal Government to commence the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway was on course with the approval of N72.9billion by the Federal Executive Council for the project.

    “You will recall that about two weeks ago, we had a stakeholders’ meeting with the Vice President presiding in Apapa and at that meeting, we resolved that we will ensure that the reconstruction of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway will be awarded within two weeks.

    “This has been fulfilled by the Federal Government; they have awarded the contract and construction should commence within the next two weeks.

    “We thank the President, Vice President, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, and that of Transport for reconstruction of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and the rail track from Apapa Ports to Ibadan which is strictly a cargo rail that will assist in moving heavy-duty goods away from the Apapa axis,” Ambode said.

    The governor said his administration was also looking at utilising barges on the waterways to move heavy cargo as a way of complementing efforts on road and rail transportation system.

    “I just think Lagosians will have the relief to see that we have actually done what is right and in their overall interest.

    “I want to thank all the stakeholders for their interest and we must continue to join hands like I said and we will get the results that we so desire,” he said.

    Chairman of Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi, said the commissioning of the truck terminal by the governor was a new dawn toward addressing the Apapa gridlock.

    “Today, I must say is a beginning of a good thing that will start happening in our sector  as haulage operators in the state. Today is the beginning of a new era as far as Lagos State is concerned.

    “The governor coming here today has shown that he is very dynamic and pragmatic.

    “This is what we have been expecting and for the governor to be here to see things for himself and flag off the rehabilitation and expansion of this terminal shows that he is not only talking but matching words with action,” Ogungbemi said.

    He expressed optimism that the steps taken by the State Government would go a long way to end the menace of trucks parking on roads and bridges in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also inspected the progress of work on the modern bus terminals in Yaba and Oyingbo.

    He also inspected the failed section of Sari- Iganmu Road which had been abandoned for over two years, assuring residents, who trooped out to welcome him, that contractors will move in to fix it within the next two weeks.

    Ambode also assured them that their blocked canals would also be cleared.

    NAN also reports that the governor and his team inspected the ongoing palliative work embarked upon to fix the bad sections of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. (NAN)

  • FG to repatriate 116 Nigerians still in Libya slave camps -Dabiri-Erewa

    The Federal Government is set to repatriate 116 of the Nigerian migrants trapped in Libya slave camps, say the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

    Dabiri-Erewa said this  in a statement by her media aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun on Sunday in Abuja.

    She said that the Federal Government and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have located  the detention camps of the Nigerians, and offered to bring those willing back home.

    The Nigeria Mission in Tripoli, she said, had traced the  migrants to Osama Detention Centre, Zawiya , Libya.

    According to her,  116 Nigerian migrants have been  processed online by the Nigeria Mission and IOM for repatriation back to Nigeria.

    However, 24 of them  insisted they must get to Europe.

    She said that Federal Government moved to rescue the detained migrants after their plea for assistance through video clip from Libya on July 8.

    In the video, the stranded Nigerians who veiled their faces, said that their final destination is Europe but was intercepted by the security agencies in Libya and locked up in dehumanising conditions.

    The migrants had in the video said  they were being tortured to death daily under a dehumanising condition.

    ” We are dying here. Come and rescue us. Europe is our final destination but we are trapped in Libya subjecting us to inhuman treatment”, one of the Nigerians said  in the video.

    Dabiri-Erewa said that 9,438 Nigerian migrants had so far been repatriated by the Federal Government and the IOM.

    She gave assurance that President  Muhammadu Buhari would continue to ensure that all stranded migrants willing to return home are brought back.

    President Muhammadu Buhari early this year directed immediate evacuation of Nigerians from Libya.

    According to her,  those that have been brought back are being profiled and enrolled in various technical and vocational training centres with relevant agencies and NGOs.

    She appealed to Nigerian youths to avail themselves the opportunities  in the country as against risking their lives to search for a non-existing and deadly greener pastures abroad.

  • Customs strike force seizes 4,200 bags of rice in Kogi

    Mr Abdullahi Kirawa, Deputy Comptroller and National Coordinator, Comptroller General Strike Force, said the team seized 4,200 50kg bags of smuggled rice in Mopa village, near Kabba in Kogi.

    Kirawa made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

    He said the seizures were as a result of synergy between the Nigeria Police, Army, Department of States Security Service and the Customs Intelligent Unit.

    “The Strike Force team intercepted seven trucks loaded with 50kg bags of smuggled rice, each truck carrying 600 bags.

    “These bags of rice were seized on Saturday, August 4, in Mopa near Kabba in Kogi State.

    “Also, eight days ago the team seized 1,246 bags of smuggled rice through the creeks in Ogun State,”Kirawa said.

    He said the seizures were as a result of information received from its dependable sources.

    “We reliably learned that the consignments were brought into the country through the land borders and the creeks,” he said.

    According to him, the policy of the government policies on importation is clear, and that it is expected that those engaged in the importation business are familiar with the laws of the land.

    Speaking on refined sugar, he said if refined sugar brought into the country through unapproved routes, it would be considered as smuggled.

    He, therefore, said the refined sugar would have the same fate as the seized rice.

    According to him, the Strike Force team has been charged with the responsibility of ensuring that smuggling is brought to its minimum. (NAN)

  • INEC discovers 19 illegal polling units in AkwaIbom Ibom

    INEC discovers 19 illegal polling units in AkwaIbom Ibom

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it has discovered 19 illegal polling units in Akwa Ibom.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Mike Igini, made the disclosure at Enlarged Stakeholders’ Forum in Uyo in Monday.

    The REC said that the illegal polling units were in Obot Akara and Uyo Local Government Areas, adding that that some of the polling units were located in hotels, church, mosques among others.

    He said that INEC found that the polling units concerned were located in violation of its guidelines; therefore there was the need to relocate and rename some polling units in the state.

    Igini, however, urged the people not to see the relocation of the polling units as a creation of new polling units, stressing that that no new polling units had been created.

    He said the essence of the forum was “to enable us see face to face and interact freely. “

    “We are here to present the commission electoral plan and strategic implementation plan, hear from you and carefully consider the concerns and ideas of everyone on how we can serve you better,” he said.

    The REC cautioned politicians who might have plans to rig the 2019 general elections to desist because INEC of today has evolved beyond rigging.

    Igini said INEC had “advanced to a level where everything is tracked.“

    “We must conduct an election that will be accepted by the people without recourse to the tribunals. We have done it elsewhere and we will do it here.

    “You are going to have little or minimal petitions. Election is a time where the independence and integrity of institutions like INEC, security agencies and judiciary are tested.”

    He also said the forum was organised as an opportunity to engage stakeholders of all political persuasions and have a robust engagement.

    The REC advised leaders of political parties in the state to talk to their party members the need for them conduct ensuring strict adherence to the code of conduct of the electoral acts.

    He stressed the need for political parties to commence the process of identifying committed party members to serve as agents during the general elections.

    Igini assured that the forthcoming election would not tolerate or accommodate thuggery in the state.

    “Campaign messages should encapsulate the principles of accommodation, decency and with strict adherence to the rule of law.

    He emphasised that the best way to win the forthcoming general elections was to mobilise supporters to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Igini,however, noted that collection of PVCs in the state was 50 per cent, a development he described as very low.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, pledged the neutrality of the police to ensure that all forms of intimidation on the electorate were eliminated, during and after the exercise.

    He said that the command had strategised ways to train security personnel on what was required of them before, during and after the elections.

    The police boss warned against any form of intimidation or harm against corps members deployed to the polling units.

    “No youth corps member will be molested, harmed or killed in Akwa Ibom.

    “We are going to view any embarrassment on corps member more seriously than any other offense in the state.

    “If you ferment problem you go in for it, we are going to prosecute all electoral offenders.

    “We must have peace and security and we must not allow any clash of event,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the forum is “Broad outline of 2019 Election in Akwa Ibom, The Road Map. “ (NAN)

  • Akpabio’s defection begins PDP’s end — APC chieftain

    Akpabio’s defection begins PDP’s end — APC chieftain

    The defection of Senate Minority Leader, Chief Godswill Akpabio, to All Progressives Congress (APC) has been described “as the beginning of the end of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’’.

    Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, made the prediction in a statement on Monday in Port Harcourt.

    Eze, in the statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), commended Akpabio “for acting wisely and jumping out of the crashing PDP train before it finally crashes’’.

    Eze is a former member of PDP and one of those who dumped the party in 2014 to become a foundation member of APC.

    “Knowing Akpabio very well, he is a one-man Tsunami and with him in the progressives train, PDP’s end is only a matter of time.

    “What is more, with Akpabio now in APC, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who recently made the mistake of defecting to PDP, can be sure that his Presidency of the Senate is only a matter of weeks.’’

    He also alleged “the present sorry state of PDP under the control of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Prince Uche Secondus’’ was “most unfortunate’’.

    He also said that Wike, who was a local government chairman in 1999, “has through deft political scheming, turned many key Nigerian leaders now in PDP into his disciples’’.

    Eze also congratulated the Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, on his reappointment as Director-General, Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    He expressed confidence that Amaechi would once again mobilise Nigerians to re-elect President Buhari, who he described as a divine tool to bring sanity and development to our country.

    Eze urged all those still remaining in PDP out of the belief that it would be revived to act very fast. (NAN)

  • Ray Ekpu gets Buhari’s shout out on birthday

    From London, where he is vacationing, President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to veteran journalist and co-founder of Newswatch Magazine, Ray Ekpu, who turns 70 tomorrow.

    The year also marks Ekpu’s 45th year as a journalist and an administrator.

    President Buhari joined the media world, family and friends of the renowned columnist and activist in celebrating the many years of exceptional contribution to national development through his writings, speaking engagements and leadership roles.

    The President believed Ekpu’s consistency and forthrightness in speaking and writing the truth to authorities deserves special commendation, especially the many times he placed his life at risk in fighting for democracy and the institutionalisation of good governance in Nigeria.

    As Ekpu turns a septuagenarian, President Buhari affirms that his wealth of knowledge, wisdom and editorial skills should serve as a benchmark for upcoming journalists as the future of the industry rests on the indelible tenets of fairness, accuracy and balance.

    The President prayed that the Almighty God will grant the prolific writer longer life, good health and more wisdom to serve the nation and humanity.

  • Wammako declares PDP dead, says defectors will regret actions

    Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC Sokoto) who staged a grand homecoming to Sokoto today said defectors to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties from All Progressives Congress (APC) will surely regret their actions.

    Wamakko stated this on Saturday at a special rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari and APC organised by loyalists, in the wake of the defection of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to PDP from the ruling APC on Aug. 1.

    He described PDP as a dead political party and categorically ruled out Tambuwal’s exit being a threat to APC hold on the state.

    He said the Sokoto APC still has two Senators, seven members of the Federal House of Representatives and 12 state assembly members, beside the high percentage of political elders, youths, women and others in the state.

    He conveyed President Buhari’s goodwill message to Sokoto residents.

    He debunked Tambuwal’s statement that the Federal Government has not executed any project in Sokoto.

    Wammako said many projects have been executed and many have been proposed across the state.

    He thanked Sokoto people for the warm reception as well as huge support for President Buhari’s administration.

    He urged the people to sustain the support to ensure Buhari amd APC victory in 2019 elections.

    ” The present political situation in Sokoto is not between mw and Governor Tambuwal but between APC as a political party and the dead PDP”, he said.

    The Senator enjoined Nigerians to shun detractors and support the good leadership of President Buhari and APC at all levels.

    State APC Chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Achida, said APC is still in control of the state and the control will continue.

    Goodwill messages were received from former Kebbi State Governor, Nasamu Dakingari, Umaru Gwandu, representative of Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state and Muhammad Bello, who attended the rally, to show solidarity with the people of Sokoto people.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report Wamakko was received by a massive crowd that even delayed the landing of the aircraft for hours as motorcyclists and people troop onto the runway.

    NAN report that the mega rally witnessed a long motorcade, a long chain of tricycles and thousands of pedestrians who trekked from the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, down to Senator Wammako’s residence in Gawan Nama in Sokoto metropolis.

  • Conference of Speakers elects Obasa as new chairman

    Conference of Speakers elects Obasa as new chairman

    The Conference of Speakers of the State Legislatures of Nigeria has elected Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly as its new chairman.

    NAN reports that the conference elected new executives at its 2018 Second Quarter Conference held between Friday, Aug. 3 and Sunday Aug. 5 in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Obasa took over from the outgoing Chairman of the conference, Alhaji Isamaila Kamba, the Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly.

    Reading the communiqué at the end of the conference, Mr Ahmed Guni, the Chairman, Electoral Committee and Communiqué Drafting Committee said that the conference deliberated on a number of national issues and conducted elections.

    Guni, the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly said: “Among other things, the conference reviewed and adopted the report of its special committee set up to facilitate an efficient and effective implementation of the financial autonomy law for the state legislatures and the judiciary.

    “The conference also deliberated on a wide range of topical national issues. The conference equally elected a new set of national executives that will run the affairs of the conference.

    “At the end of the elections, Rt-Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly emerged the new conference chairman.

    “The office of the Deputy Chairman went to the Speaker of the Taraba House of Assembly Rt-Hon. Peter Abeldiah while the Treasurer went to the Speaker of Delta State, Rt.-Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

    “The Financial Secretary was clinched by the Speaker of Kogi House of Assembly, Prince Kolawole Matthew,” he said.

    According to him, to represent the six geopolitical zones, the conference has vice chairmen: Mr Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, Speaker of Rivers (representing South-South) while Mrs Rita Maduagu, Speaker of Anambra (representing South-East).

    He said that Prophet Oloyelogun David, Speaker of Ondo State representing the South-West.

    Guni added that Mr Sanusi Rikiji, Speaker of Zamfara (representing the North-West); Mr Balarabe Ibrahim, Speaker of Nasarawa State (Representing the North-Central) while Mr Kawuwa Damina, Speaker of Bauchi (representing the North-East).

    He said that the conference also resolved to call on the Federal Government to direct relevant government agencies to ensure prompt implementation of the new constitutional provision granting financial autonomy to the judiciary and state legislatures.

    The conference equally called on the State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria to ensure meaningful engagement with the executive arms in their respective states in order to have a seamless implementation of the new law with a view to state legislature and enhancing democracy in Nigeria.

    Guni said that the conference also called on the National Assembly to expedite actions on the proposed constitutional amendment to established state police in Nigeria with a view to complementing the efforts of the Nigeria police on security.

    The chairman, who noted that the conference also called on political leaders to put national interest above any other interest, urged the Nigeria police to be professional and apolitical in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.

    He said that the conference called on police to desist from invading and occupying legislative houses in the country.

    According to him, the conference commiserates with the people of Zamfara and all other states variously attacked by gunmen.

    In his acceptance speech, the new conference Chairman, Obasa, who described his election as a great honour and privilege, promised to serve the interests of the conference.

    Obasa said: “This mandate is a sacred one and I intend to do everything within my power to protect its sanctity.

    “It is a mandate which brings about a burden, the burden to serve, not only my colleagues but the entire people of Nigeria who have honoured us with their votes at our respective constituencies to promote and protect their interest and welfares,” he said.

    The speaker urged all state legislators to come together and work for the protection of the sanctity of the parliament, saying that parliament remains the bedrock of democracy.

    Obasa, who frowned at attacks on parliaments, said that he would work for the protection of the rights of the legislature and cooperate with other arms of government for the growth and development of the county.

    “I assure you that we will not keep quiet, fold our hands and watch our rights being trampled upon. We will be gentle but firm in our demand for our rights, resolute but not deliberately antagonistic.

    “The parliament is the last option for democracy and it is our duty to protect it for the survival of democratic values and ideals,” he said. (NAN)